The Arab League chief Amr Mussa has slammed a deadly Israeli military raid against a Gaza-bound aid boat as a "crime" and called a meeting of the 22-country organisation about the attack. "We condemn this crime, taken against a humanitarian mission and people. They were trying to help people. They were not on a military mission. Everyone should condemn this," Mr Mussa. Speaking later on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum summit in Doha, Qatar, Mr Mussa said he had called a meeting of the Arab League council to be held on Tuesday.
"We are all very angry," Mr Mussa said. "Tomorrow, there will be a collective position taken." "This is another message, a very powerful message, that Israel does not want peace, is not ready to enter into peace. So everything we are doing is to no avail," he said. Mr Mussa said the Israeli action meant "everything" was now left "hanging in the air", including US-brokered proximity talks that only started on May 9 between the Jewish state and the Palestinians.
He added that "lifting the siege (on Gaza) should be part of any confidence-building measures, any preparation for a successful round of proximity talks". Israel has maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power in the impoverished, overcrowded Palestinian territory in 2007. Pro-Palestinian activists have landed with aid in Gaza five times, with another three attempts unsuccessful since their first such sea voyage in August 2008.
*AFP
